A photograph captures an intricately detailed brass statue of the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance. The statue is positioned centrally on a light-coloured wooden shelf, showing Shiva in a dynamic cosmic dance pose with multiple arms (four clearly visible) within a large circular, flame-fringed halo. He balances on his right leg on a prostrate figure, and his left leg is raised. The background, which is slightly out of focus, features a framed chart pinned to a white wall, displaying rows and rows of small illustrative human figures in various yoga asanas (poses), arranged in a sequence with unreadable descriptive text below each pose. The statue has a worn, aged metal finish. The perspective is frontal.

Class styles

Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally practised in two different class styles, a led class and a Mysore style class. These are both different methods to the way that the majority of Western yoga classes are taught today. The two different styles are explained below.

Mysore style class

Mysore style is the way that Ashtanga is practised and taught in most yoga shalas around the world. It is named after the city in South India where Pattabhi Jois first taught the Ashtanga Yoga method. This style of teaching is unique to the Ashtanga Yoga method and if you are used to the way that most Western yoga classes are taught, it can feel a little strange to begin with. The main difference that you will notice at first is that the teacher does not instruct the class to follow the same sequence.

In the Mysore class, each student practises the set sequence of Ashtanga that they are working in, at their own pace. The teacher is present to instruct students individually and help them to learn the asana (pose) and vinyasa (movement in and out of the pose) as they progress through the series they are learning.

A high-angle shot of a yoga class in a studio with light wood floors and white walls. In the foreground, a man in a white t-shirt and black pants performs a downward-facing dog on a black mat. To his right, a woman in a dark navy set performs an extended side angle pose on a pink mat, using a cork block for support. In the background, two other students are on their mats: one in a cobra pose and another in a low press-up pose. The room features a white ornate fireplace with plants on the mantel, a large geometric circular black decoration on the right wall, and several purple yoga ropes hanging on the back wall.
A high-angle photograph of a person with dark hair tied back, wearing a black tank top and leggings, performing a side stretch yoga pose, with one hand resting on their knee and the other reaching toward the ceiling. They stand barefoot on a long, red yoga mat with an elaborate gold and red pattern, set against light wood plank flooring. A cork yoga block is near the heel of their back foot. In the background, three sets of thick white ropes hang vertically against a light white wall, with one purple fabric end piece attached. To the left, several black and patterned mats are neatly stacked on a wooden wall rack above a Monstera plant in a brown pot and a white portable radiator. The lighting is diffused and natural.
A high-angle view of four people doing different yoga poses on mats in a bright, wood-floored room, with a wall decorated with a large, black, geometric pattern that consists of overlapping circles. On the right, a woman with long, dark hair, wearing a navy blue crop top and leggings with white socks, performs a high lunge pose with both arms raised straight. In the foreground, a man with short, dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt with a black pattern and dark pants, is in a downward dog pose on a black mat. To his left, another person in a black tank top and leggings is on all fours, hands and knees on a light brown mat. At the back right, a fourth person, wearing a red hoodie and pants, kneels and leans forward on a pinkish mat. Against the light white wall, several white and purple yoga ropes hang from wall hooks. A single plant and several yoga blocks and straps are on the left. The flooring is natural wood planks.

Students progress at their own rate, and the teacher is able to offer individual advice to each student in the room to help them develop within their practice. It is common within the Ashtanga Yoga method for a teacher to offer hands-on adjustments and assists to students in the Mysore room, but these are not mandatory and the student should take the responsibility of letting their teacher know what they do and do not want within their practice.

The yoga shala is silent except for the sound of the students’ breath and the occasional discussion between student and teacher when advice is being given for a certain asana. This environment helps to increase the meditative element of the practice.

Led class

The other way that you will see Ashtanga classes taught is a led class. In a traditional led class, the teacher will call out the postures of the sequence and the vinyasa count (in Sanskrit) so that all students move through the sequence at the same time and in the same rhythm.

There is very little space within a led class for a teacher to offer advice or any adjustments, so for this reason a led class is best suited to students who are already familiar with the Ashtanga Yoga sequence being taught and who want to tighten up their vinyasas in and out of each asana.

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